OK, not a dynasty, but Getzlaf and Perry did deliver the Ducks their first Cup. They also reached the conference finals in 2015 and 2017.

Although they still made the playoffs last year, the Ducks aren't looking as mighty (haha) as they used to. Kesler's hip is so bad he might go on LTIR and Perry couldn't even get 50 points.

This is now Rickard Rackell's team, but he, Jakob Silfverberg, Ondrej Kase, Nick Ritchie and Adam Henrique aren't making anyone in the Pacific shake in their boots. They're hoping Troy Terry and Sam Steel make the squad full-time in a hurry.

The defence, on the other hand, has a solid core of Hampus, Dave Manson's kid, Fowler, Montour, Pettersson and Larsson. They also have a future Vezina winner in nets.

So what do they do this offseason? They've got some money to spend and have been quieter than Cali rivals SJ and LA with regards to making moves, but GM Al Murray said they can't go with status quo. I expect them to be players this offseason. Could Bozak or Stastny replace Kesler?

On a serious note, how frustrating must it be to be the draft/development staff for this franchise. All their wonderful work gets flushed down the drain because the incompetent general manager and meathead coach think you can only win with grizzled vets and talentless grinders.

I also think the Dux made a slight error committing long-term to Cam Fowler. I think that's the kind of player you sell high on.

Third, you can't be a budget team and commit big $$$ to 2-3 players. A really good GM might be able to squeeze a good, balanced roster into that tight a cap space. Murray isn't a good GM.

I think goaltending, Getzlaf, and the young talent they develop will continue to buoy them into playoff-worthiness but they won't take that next step until Murray and Carlyle are gonzo.

Was hardly reported on, but assistant coach Steve Konowalchuk was fired last week. He previously turned around a flagging Seattle Thunderbirds franchise, so I'm glad he's outta that cesspool and will hopefully get another shot somewhere else.

Did not realize until it was mentioned on NHL Radio that both Rakell and Gibson were selected in 2011 with picks acquired from Toronto. In exchange the Leafs moved up in the first round (they didn't have their own 1st rounder that year of course) to pick...Tyler Biggs, who is currently playing in the UK. Yeesh...

The Ducks have the best goalie tandem in the league and still can't win. Unreal.

Not only that, but IMO they have a pretty good defensive corps.

BUT...they also have a coach who insists on playing dump-and-chase grinding hockey that's horribly outdated, and for some reason Murray refuses to admit that going back to Carlyle was an enormous mistake. The players have quit on him.

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